iPad

Evidence was discovered that Apple was interested in the name “iSlate, prior to settling on “iPad”.

A search in the Canadian trademark database reveals that Apple’s dummy corporation Slate Computing, LLC applied for a trademark for “iPad” under the categories of handheld mobile digital electronic devices with a broad range of applications. This application was filed in July 2009 — much more recently than the original iSlate trademarks which date back to 2006-2007. Slate Computing, LLC did not apply for a similar trademark in the U.S. due to the fact that Fujitsu appears to control the U.S. trademark as it relates to handheld computing. Of course, this didn’t stop Apple from using the iPhone name despite it being owned by Cisco in the U.S. at the time of the iPhone’s launch.

Very similar trademark applications for “iPad” were also filed in Europe and Hong Kong in July. The European filing listed a UK law firm while the Hong Kong application listed a company called IP Application Development, LLC which is located in Delaware.